Despite a nervy conclusion – when they saw a seven-point lead whittled down to two – Sligo held on for their first win in this year's Allianz Football League.
Their 1-19 to 2-14 defeat of Clare in a roller-coaster encounter at Markievicz Park improves Sligo's chances of avoiding the drop from Division Three.
Emmet McMahon, Clare's top scorer, goaled in time added on as well as landing a two-pointer from a free but Clare were unable to dig out at least a draw, having also had a goal disallowed in additional time.
For both teams this was a must-win fixture. Struggling Sligo were looking for a first victory after three losses and a draw, with Clare seeking a fourth win of the campaign to further boost their promotion hopes.
Clare had the most recent bragging rights thanks to last year's one-point victory, 0-09 to 1-05, when the sides met in Ennis.
Sligo were hoping for a similar outcome to when they last hosted Clare at Markievicz Park in a Division 1B game in 2002 – that day Sligo won by eight points.
In glorious conditions, the initial exchanges were nip and tuck. It was 0-03 apiece after 13 minutes, with Patrick O’Connor landing two fine scores for the home side and McMahon among Clare’s early scorers.
McMahon’s two-pointer from a free and then a fisted effort from Eoin Cleary, who scored from superb work by Ikem Ugwueru, had Clare 0-06 to 0-05 ahead by the 27th minute.
Sligo then enjoyed their best phase – with Luke Towey to the fore – and a brace of frees from Niall Murphy and a score from Towey helped the hosts lead 0-09 to 0-07 at half-time.
Clare had a number of goal shots in the first-half but all were blocked.
Sligo turned up the heat following the restart and twice could have got goals but O'Connor blasted a shot just inches over and a piledriver from Murphy was tipped over for a point by Clare goalkeeper Eamon Tubridy.
Canice Mulligan got Sligo's only goal of the game after 48 minutes – O'Connor provided the assist – and seven went seven points clear, 1-12 to 0-08.
But Clare's response was instant as 60 seconds later a dangerous attack ended in a goalmouth scramble and Aaron Griffin's effort went in.
Clare, who had Keelan Sexton black-carded after 52 minutes, kept Sligo within reach via two outstanding points from Ikem Ugwueru and Keelan Sexton's point in the 64th minute left just three points between the sides, 1-15 to 1-12.
Then Sligo pushed on again and four unanswered points, including a fine effort from Darragh Cummins and Murphy's fifth score of the day, made it 1-19 to 1-12 in the 73rd minute.
Just before Sligo's 19th point – substitute Mikey Gordon was on target – Clare had a goal chalked off because Ikem Ugwueru was deemed to have been in the square when he converted McMahon's cross.
But 1-2 from McMahon – his goal coming from a rebound after a Manus Doherty goalbound rocket came off the underside of the crossbar – brought Clare, who are still in the promotion mix, so close to a draw.
Sligo, relieved at the final whistle, will see this outcome as a potential turning point with two games left.
Sligo: Daniel Lyons, Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins (0-02), Luke Towey (0-02), Canice Mulligan (1-00), Patrick O’Connor (0-03), Ross Doherty, David Quinn (0-02, 1tp), Alan Reilly (0-01), Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy (0-05, 2f), Pat Spillane (0-01)
Subs: Nathan Mullen (0-02) for Luke Towey, 54; Cian Lally for Ross Doherty, 54; Oisin Flynn for David Quinn, 58; Mikey Gordon (0-01) for Alan Reilly, 65; Jack Lavin for Darragh Cummins, 70
Clare: Eamon Tubridy, Cillian Rouine, Cillian Brennan, Manus Doherty Alan Sweeney, Fionn Kelleher, Connor Meaney (0-01), Brian McNamara, Ikem Ugwueru (0-02), Aaron Griffin (1-01), Emmet McMahon (1-06, 1tp, 1tpf), Ciaran Downes, Daniel Walsh, Eoin Cleary (0-03, 2f), Keelan Sexton (0-01)
Subs: Evan Cahill for Daniel Walsh, 45; Dermot Coughlan for Ciaran Downes, 50; Cormac Murray for Alan Sweeney, 61; Darragh Burns for Keelan Sexton, 69; Gavin Murray for Ikem Ugwueru, 72
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
